A while back I remember explaining how the showers work here…that there’s an electric heater in the shower head that it’s wise not to touch. And how last year when I first got here the shower head would randomly shock the top of my head because I was too tall. Well, Miguel fixed that problem, but the tap in the shower still gives you a pretty good buzz when you touch it. So I’ve learned to kind of hit it quickly when I want to turn the water on or off. It makes it a challenge to adjust the water flow…but I figure it’s better than death. Yesterday I was bent over washing my feet, and I touched my forehead to the metal tap. It didn’t so much hurt as cause blinding, white, flashing lights in front of my eyes.

I figure that can’t be good…

I wanted to give you an update on how things went with the guys on Monday. Thanks to all of you who were praying! I was a bit surprised at how nervous I was. But I guess both of these guys’ futures were hanging a bit in the balance…so that added to the pressure. But both conversations went very well. I think I was able to build some good trust with David, which was a big step forward. We talked about self-worth and the value that we have as God’s children (among other things). I pulled back a bit from what I was going to say. Miguel had talked to him about some things in the morning…and I didn’t want to hit him over the head too much. But I brought up a couple of sensitive topics, so we’ll see what that means in terms of the decisions he needs to make.

The other fellow responded very well too. He’s also made some bad decisions in the past…haven’t we all, I guess. But his have had some consequences lately. I confronted him pretty strongly on some of the issues, and he owned up to everything. So that was good. I wasn’t sure if he would, and that would have made the situation worse. We were able to strengthen our friendship considerably. I think it was good for him to see that the sin in his life, while serious and a concern to me, doesn’t affect our friendship or my acceptance of him. These guys don’t understand grace very well. So it was cool to see him respond to that.

Yesterday I also had one of the guys come to me and start sharing about how he’s struggling right now. We went for a load of wood for the fire, and afterwards I stopped and bought us a Coke. While we were sitting there drinking them, he just started talking. He’s feeling a lot of temptation to leave and consume (do drugs). He was pretty open and honest, which was amazing. I said as much as I could, and we’re going to sit down with Edly today and talk some more. If you could pray for him, that would be great. His name is Diego…or Arana (Spider). Some of you know him.

I know I said thank you for praying, but I just want to say it again. It means a lot to me…and it makes a difference. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…nothing much happens here without prayer. It’s unbelievable sometimes, the battle I see going on. The other day I was walking in Santa Cruz, and I walked past a factory that makes those red, clay, roofing tiles they use here. They had taken all the small broken pieces and spread them across the parking area in front of the building. As I walked over them it sounded like glass breaking and I had this thought of how crazy it would be to try and put the pieces back together again and make new tiles (my brain goes to random places sometimes). Then it occurred to me that this is exactly what we’re trying to do with these young guys. We’re trying to take lives that have been completely shattered, and put them back together. Of course, in terms of our human ability, it’s an impossible task…all the little pieces that are scattered and broken. But in terms of God’s power and ability…nothing is impossible.

But it definitely keeps me humble. I read a while back in Daniel how God responded to Daniel and heard his prayers because, in God’s words, Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before his God. That’s been banging around in my head a lot…to seek understanding and to be humble. I want to be humble in my relationships and conduct here…to seek humility. Of course, as an author of a book I’m reading right now wrote, “Be careful when you ask God for humility. The best way to gain humility is to be humiliated.” =)

Thanks again for everything. It’s always great hearing from you all. Have a great day!

Hasta luego,

Ken

PS: Okay…I’m going to share this story. I almost didn’t…but it’s kind of funny. Speaking of humiliation…I made my first Spanish language mistake (well, big Spanish mistake) the other day. A couple of guys were teasing me about how much I like Coke. They asked me if I had it as a baby. I tried to say that my mom didn’t give me Coke….but it came out as “My mom’s breasts didn’t have Coke.” Actually, I first said “Breasts don’t have Coke”…but then I tried to correct myself, and that’s when I said “My mom’s breasts didn’t have Coke.” That’s always the question really…when you make a mistake, do you try and correct yourself or just walk away.

I should have just walked away….

Well…I ran into another blockade a couple of days ago. It was the perfect end to the worst public transportation experience I’ve had since I got here (okay….maybe we’ll exclude the riot experience from that statement). It all started when I decided to take a regular bus downtown to the old bus terminal to catch my bus home to Nacer (cheap), instead of taking a taxi (more expensive) to the new terminal where my bus originates (which guarantees you a seat).

I did this in order to save a dollar…yes, you read correctly…a DOLLAR! Keep that in mind as you continue reading.

I confidently hopped onto my bus, only to realize that all the seats were already taken. To make matters worse…it was an old bus…which are shorter…not built for the average Canadian. Standing up, the roof was only about 2 inches above my shoulders. So I had to crouch forward…into the guy in front of me…over an old lady…

I continued this way for the next hour…and yes, you read that correctly…the next HOUR! Let’s refer back to the first paragraph shall we. How much did I save? Exactly…

Enough people eventually got off the bus so I could have a seat (I learned that single white males are in line behind old women…old men…young women with babies…children…young women in general…anything living). I sat down and relaxed…just in time for our bus to start slowing down and pulling off the road. When I looked out the front window and saw the hundred or so cars and trucks and buses parked all over the road and ditches…I knew what was going on.

I hopped off the bus with my stuff and started walking. After a mile or so, I came to the actual blockade. As I said before, in general you’re aloud to walk across the blockade…just not drive. I was feeling a little cautious…there were lots of people yelling and chanting…and it was dark out…and last time people threw rocks at me…. So I was moving pretty quickly when I crossed over. =) I found another bus heading out to the home, so I hopped aboard…and yes, it was full too. So I sat on the engine cover and people piled their stuff on top of me.

But I saved a dollar and that’s what really counts….

The day before this, I was on a bus and another driver pulled out too quickly and the big rearview mirror on his bus hit us and smashed, spraying glass into the open window of our bus. Fortunately I was looking the other way because glass hit me in the side of the head. The entertaining part came when the guy who was sitting right beside the open window (and who got the worst of the glass) jumped up and wanted to fight the driver of the other bus. He took off his shirt (remember?  The Bolivian declaration of “Let’s fight!”) and was yelling and such. Our driver wouldn’t let him off, and eventually he calmed down.

I really want a truck…

For those of you who were disappointed that I didn’t have any adventure stories last time (although I still think a tarantula in your shower counts)…there you go. The best I can do. I actually have some serious things to write about now, so if you can bear with me…

Earlier tonight I had a pretty heavy heart. I’m still not entirely sure what to think or how to feel. The last time I wrote I asked you to pray for a young guy named David. He’s a fellow that I’ve know for a few years here, and I know that I’ve talked about him with you before. He has no family and really struggles with feelings of worthlessness. He’s one of my favourite guys, but he’s a struggle to work with sometimes. He’s been making some bad decisions lately, and Miguel and Edly are thinking that they may have to ask him to leave the home. I agree that something needs to happen, but the thought of him leaving rests very heavy on my heart. On Monday David and I are going into Santa Cruz to meet with one of the missionaries there, who is going to translate for me. I want to talk with him about what’s going on and the choices he’s making. I really need prayer for this. To know what to say, and how to say it. That David will listen and realize that the leaders here do want what’s best for him. And that David will have the strength and will to do what needs to be done and correct the mistakes he’s made.

After that meeting with David, I’m getting together with another young guy who I’ve known for all the years that I’ve been coming here. While I was in Canada, this fellow left the home (after being here for over five years) and more or less went back to the streets. He’s actually living in a little room that he rents…but he’s consuming (doing drugs) and now he’s contracted a fairly serious disease. I saw him yesterday, and couldn’t believe how bad he looked. Skeletal is the only way I can describe him. My thumb and pinky finger can fit around his wrist. We had a good visit (it was one of those moments when my Spanish was working), but Monday I want to talk pretty straight with him about what’s going on in his life. This medical issue needs to be treated quickly. The good thing is, this has given me the opening to talk honestly about his choices…there’s not that much denying he can do. My missionary friend is going to translate for that too.

So Monday is shaping up to be a big day. I’m looking forward to talking with these guys…it’s what I’m down here for…but I’m nervous too. I want to be sensitive to God’s leading, and that He would guide our conversations. It’s pretty big…the future of both of these young guys is up in the air. But I also know that God is at work in them. I spent yesterday praying and fasting for them and I think I can say that I felt God’s presence and confirmation in that. As an aside, when I made the decision to fast yesterday, I didn’t know that it was going to be a celebration day (I’m not sure of what) and that we would be having BBQ shish-kabob’s and cake. So I think God listened really good to my prayers… =)

Thanks again for listening (reading) and for praying. There are lots of really great days here…and more than enough stressful ones too. =) It definitely helps knowing that people back home are praying. Just so you know, Sergio is doing better, and those other young guys are doing good as well. I’ve been able to get to know them better and I can see some good friendships shaping up. When they were decorating for the home’s anniversary, I loaned them my Canadian flag to hang in their dorm. The flag is still there and now their dorm is the “Canadian Dorm”. Whenever I sleep in the dorms (when Miguel’s house fills up, I lose my bed) I sleep in their dorm. It’s been fun, and they enjoy it (very cold…but fun).

Thanks again for praying. As I said, it means a lot to me. Take care everyone and I hope to hear from you soon.

Ken

So last night I was hanging out in the dorms, and one of the guys noticed that my shoes were pretty dusty and scuffed. In a room full of ex-shoe shiners, sitting next to these shoes was the next thing to purgatory. Before I new it, the shoe shine kit was out, and I had a half dozen guys taking turns competing to see who could do the best job polishing the daylights out of my shoes (there’s seems to be something in the snapping of the cloth that I don’t understand but is quite important). I even got the “use a broken piece of mirror to flash light onto the shoe to show how shiny it is” treatment. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that these shoes weren’t actually the kind that should be shined and polished. So they’ll never have that dull semi-rugged look that they had when I bought them again…but I’ve gotten lots of compliments from the other guys, so I guess it’s all good. I also had a long discussion about how woollies (socks) aren’t supposed to be pulled up to your knees, but they’re supposed to be worn pushed down. I finally said, “This is how we wear them in Canada!” to which one guy replied, “Ya well you’re living in Bolivia.” Which is, in all truth, a good answer.

The group from Canada has returned home…so once again it’s just me and 75 people who don’t speak English. It was great having the team here, they were an excellent group. We did quite a bit of painting and work at the second boy’s home just up the road. We painted all the rooms (which were in pretty desperate need of some help), as well as a great sign for the home to put out on the highway. The rooms are nothing if not much brighter than they were before. A little bright for my tastes maybe, but the guys think they’re great. There’s only so much you can do when you’re mixing tints into a 5 gallon pail of paint. It’s always a bit of a surprise what you end up with. That home has never gotten help from North America, so it was exciting for them to have the everyone there each day. I’’m sure “Gringo” (a, shall we say, “high energy” 10 year old) is probably still bouncing off the walls. I know that it was a blessing and encouragement for them for sure.

A slight side note…the team brought down my mountain bike, which has been a great source of diversion for me. Except for the occasional rabid dog trying to bite my ankles on the way past, it’s a nice, peaceful opportunity to get away and do some thinking and praying.

Life at the home is going fairly well. I’ve gotten used to the idea (more or less) that this is a ministry where the atmosphere can change in heartbeat. Right now things seem to be stable, but tomorrow….?

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary a week ago, which was great. Mostly the day involved a lot of running. We had sort of track and field day with relays, long distance running, tug-of-wars and of course soccer. Even the youngest guys did the long distance run. I was situated at the half-way point for the younger fellows, and one of the youngest came marching up to me to get his marker to show that he had completed that portion of the race. I told him good job, and to keep going. He gave me the clearest, “Back off and leave me alone ‘cause this isn’t fun” look I’ve ever seen. Without a word he just turned around and started marching back the way he came.

We gave him a ride back in the truck for the last part, and that seemed to restore his mood. At any rate, the older guys loved the race.

For the relay/obstacle course, near the end everyone started chanting for me to run. I walked towards Miguel and said sure, if Miguel races me. Everyone started laughing and cheering and Miguel, in the clearest English I’ve ever heard him use, whispered to me, “What?! Are you crazy?!”

Some things to be thankful for, and some things to pray for. While the team was here, one of the guys, Abel, came and asked if he could talk to me. I was a little nervous because he was the first of the guys to officially ask to talk, and I wasn’t sure what we would be talking about (trust me, could be anything!). Rebecca (one of the girls on the team who speaks good Spanish) translated for me, and as it turned out, Abel wanted to pray with someone to become a Christian. So that was exciting…and not nearly as stressful as I had anticipated. But if you could pray for him, that would be great. He seems to be doing really well, but these guys can come under attack pretty quickly.

A couple of the older guys have been struggling lately. These are guys that would consider themselves Christians, but I’m not sure how much they understand that commitment. I know that there are some serious sin issues in their lives, and things they need to get straightened out. Both are good friends, and I find myself pretty concerned about the direction they’re heading in. If you could pray for them, that they would have peace about being here, and that they would deal with the sin in their lives. Their names are Sergio and David.

Finally, there is a group of 16 year olds here who are really great guys. Most of them have grown up together here (at least for the past 5 or 6 years) so they’re probably more like brothers. They’re just at that stage where the temptations are starting to come, and I can see them swaying a bit at times. If they can continue on as they have been, and keep supporting each other…they’ll be an amazing group of guys when they get older. Some of their names are…Diego, Andreas, Jesus and one other kid whose name I can’t quite remember at this moment. Pray for him too. =) God knows who I’’m talking about.

And thanks for praying for me as well. You don’t know how much I appreciate it. I’ve already had some incredible highs and some brutal lows…and I’ve only been here a couple of months! I tend to get wrapped up in people’s lives pretty easily, and when there’s as much need as there is here…it’s a bit overwhelming at times. But I see God working every day, and that’s definitely the good part.

Sorry I don’t have any crazy adventure stories to tell this time. I killed a tarantula in my shower the other day if that counts. And for the most part, just being here is a bit of a crazy adventure!

Take care everyone and I hope to hear from you soon!

Ken